Latest news with #asylumclaims
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Universities face foreign student ban if too many claim asylum
Universities will be banned from accepting foreign students if too many claim asylum in Britain. The Home Office outlined plans to crack down on the 'misuse and exploitation of student visas' in its immigration white paper in May. It now says universities will be penalised if fewer than 95 per cent of international students accepted onto a course go on to start their studies, if fewer than 90 per cent finish, or if more than 5 per cent have their visas rejected. Increasing numbers of students are making asylum claims at the end of their course, despite 'nothing substantive' having changed in their home countries during their studies, according to The Times. The Government has said student visas are being used as an 'entry point' for getting to the UK to work 'without any intention to complete the course'. The worst-performing universities will be named and shamed by the Government under the rules to be unveiled in September, the newspaper reported. They will face a limit on the number of new international students they can recruit until they have improved. Institutions that fail to do so will be stripped of their ability to sponsor study visas. Foreign students are a significant boon to university coffers. They contributed more than £12bn in tuition fees in Britain in the year 2022-23. The number of sponsored study visa grants to foreign students has soared from around 200,000 in 2016 to almost half a million in the year to June 2023. Government statistics showed that the number of asylum claims made by a visa holder had increased since mid-2021, with almost half of them coming from students. Visas for lower-ranking universities increased by 49 per cent in two years from 2021, while the number of visas for the top 100 ranked institutions fell by 7 per cent. Nearly 10,000 asylum seekers who initially came to the UK on a visa were living in taxpayer-funded accommodation, such as hotels, at some point last year. Home Office officials have said that Pakistani, Nigerian and Sri Lankan visa holders are the most likely to go on to apply for asylum. Dame Angela Eagle, the border security minister, told The Times: 'The UK will always welcome genuine visitors, workers and students, but we will not tolerate this kind of systematic abuse 'The rules must be respected and enforced, and we will not hesitate to impose even tighter visa controls where necessary.' Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the changes amounted to 'minor tinkering around the edges' and would 'make little real difference'. He told the newspaper: 'Far too many foreign students are using the pretext of study as a route into the UK. Some courses are extremely low quality and have students who barely speak any English. 'A number of universities are essentially selling UK visas rather than selling an education. This abuse needs to be shut down. 'The last Conservative government rightly ended the farce of students being able to bring family in with them but a lot more real action is now needed.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Without real deterrence, any plan to tackle illegal migration will fail
SIR – Once again, Labour is looking at the problem of small-boat Channel crossings from the wrong end of the telescope. Instead of allocating an extra £100 million to the National Crime Agency to target people smugglers ( August 4), there has to be a concerted effort to address the reasons why so many want to come to Britain in the first place. Deterrence must be the starting point. This should include: a reduction in the benefits payable, and immediate cessation if an asylum claim is rejected; strategic and operational action to prevent illegal working; changes in the law to prevent endless appeals against asylum refusal; immediate deportation of failed claimants (as well as visa overstayers); safe but basic housing as an alternative to hotels; and tougher criteria to determine asylum eligibility. Until such action is taken, I confidently predict that the additional funds won't make an iota of difference. Peter Higgins West Wickham, Kent SIR – The Government has pledged more money to help with the 'one in, one out' scheme agreed with France last month, which is still only at the pilot stage. After a year in office, it continues to make things up as it goes along. Sir Keir Starmer's promise to 'smash the gangs' rings as hollow as ever. Charles Penfold Ulverston, Cumbria SIR – I am increasingly alarmed by the Government's handling of mass migration. Britain is absorbing large numbers of people without adequate checks, long-term planning or public consent. British taxpayers are funding accommodation, welfare and legal aid for individuals who, in some cases, have criminal records. Meanwhile, the needs of law-abiding citizens are being sidelined. There is a growing perception that we, the British public, are being unfairly treated for raising concerns. We are scrutinised, silenced and stretched thin, while individuals arriving illegally are afforded leniency and protection. Many no longer feel safe in their own communities, and public services are at breaking point. This is not sustainable – morally, socially or economically. The Government must urgently reassert control of our borders, enforce meaningful vetting and put the rights and safety of British citizens first. Leila Edwards Thame, Oxfordshire SIR – The RNLI has responded to claims that it has been acting as a 'taxi service' for migrants ('RNLI makes no apology for saving Channel migrants in distress', report, July 30). Anyone who has watched the television series Saving Lives at Sea will be aware of the selfless bravery and expertise of RNLI volunteers. In the case of a sinking dinghy, do the charity's critics expect a lifeboat crew just to take one look and turn around? Marilyn Parrott Altrincham, Cheshire
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Universities face foreign student ban if too many claim asylum
Universities will be banned from accepting foreign students if too many use their courses to claim asylum in Britain. The Home Office outlined plans to crack down on the 'misuse and exploitation of student visas ' in its immigration white paper in May. It has now emerged institutions will be penalised if fewer than 95 per cent of international students who are accepted on to a university course go on to start their studies, fewer than 90 per cent finish, or if more than 5 per cent of foreign students' visas are rejected. Increasing numbers of students are making asylum claims at the end of their course, despite 'nothing substantive' having changed in their home countries in the duration of their studies, according to The Times. The Government has said visas are being used as an 'entry point' for getting to the UK to work 'without any intention to complete the course'. The worst-performing universities will be named and shamed by the Government under the rules to be unveiled in September, it was reported. Those institutions will face a limit on the number of new international students they can recruit until they have improved. Those who fail to do so will be stripped of their ability to sponsor study visas altogether.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Starmer's decision to axe Rwanda migrant scheme has backfired spectacularly leaving us no proper deterrent
Small boasts THERE was much excitement in Whitehall yesterday that French border cops had managed to enter the water and puncture a single rubber dinghy. Number Ten went so far as to call it a 'significant moment' — entirely overlooking the fact that at least six more boatloads of illegal immigrants WERE allowed to set sail for Dover. 1 In truth, ministers are desperate to cling to any sign of getting value for the £480million gifted to France. During Labour's first year in office, a staggering 40,000 crossed the Channel. Meanwhile, a Government promise to cut the number of asylum claims — the highest since records began in 1979 — has stalled with 107,000 waiting to be processed or appealing. Around 32,000 are in hotels — and plenty of them will be working illegally as delivery drivers. Given the Home Office has managed to deport just 6,000 so far, most will end up staying and many will eventually get free housing. The truth is that Sir Keir Starmer's decision to scrap the Rwanda scheme 12 months ago has backfired spectacularly — leaving us with no proper deterrent. Windy Mili ECO clown Ed Miliband now wants Brits to put windmills in their back gardens to help him meet his impossible green targets. The Energy Secretary also wants to build thousands of 850ft-high wind turbines across the countryside. Miliband clearly doesn't care that that the vast majority of Brits live in tightly packed terraced houses or flats. Keir Starmer's deranged drive for Net Zero with eco-zealot Ed Miliband is a threat to UK's national security- here's why Or that tens of thousands of whirling blades will be a massive blight on the beauty of our communities. Only one thing matters to His Greenness: his legacy as a Net Zero hero. Meanwhile the rest of us are left whistling in the wind. Carp-onystas IT'S a tale of hard-left splitters so bizarre even Monty Python couldn't make up. Zarah Sultana proudly announced she had quit Labour to set up a new party with Jeremy Corbyn. Except someone to forget to tell the Magic Grandpa, who promptly threw his toys out of the left side of the pram. The new group's name has not yet been revealed. But it's likely to be a toss-up between the People's Front of Sultana and the Sultanan People's Front. It might even end up being the Sultana Popular Front.
National Post
03-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Liberal government tables border security bill with sweeping new data collection powers
OTTAWA — The Liberal government tabled a significant border security bill on Tuesday that includes sweeping new powers to intercept or search communications including mail, a tightening of the asylum claim process and increased intelligence collection and sharing across the federal government. Article content Article content The 139-page Bill C-2, tabled Tuesday morning, proposes vast changes to Canadian border security, data collection and sharing by federal authorities, anti-money laundering rules, the asylum claim system and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). Article content Article content The government said the bill had three main themes: securing the border, fighting organized crime and fentanyl and boosting the fight against financial crimes. Article content Article content Throughout all those themes are improved powers for law enforcement and intelligence services like CSIS to access information, including some without a warrant approved by a court, or even search Canadians' mail as part of a criminal investigation. Article content It would also increase the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) ability to search containers exiting the country by obligating transporters and warehouse operators to provide site access to border agents for export inspections. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree told reporters on Tuesday that the new data collection and sharing powers in the bill also come with the necessary safeguards. Article content 'In order for me to bring forward legislation, it needed to have the safeguards in place. It needed to be in line with the values of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and I fundamentally believe that that we have struck the balance that, while expanding powers in certain instances, does have the safeguards and the protections in place to protect individual freedoms or rights,' the minister said. Article content Article content With regards to border security, a frequent gripe against Canada by U.S. President Donald Trump, the bill proposes to tighten rules around asylum claims, allow the RCMP to share information about registered sex offenders with domestic international partners and gives the CCG a new protective security role. Article content For example, the bill would allow the government to deem inadmissible wide swaths of asylum claimants. Among them, asylum claim received over 365 days after an applicant arrived in Canada (retroactively to June 24, 2020). Article content That measure, if passed, would likely impact tens of thousands of asylum claims received from international students after the Liberals drastically cut down on foreign study permits last year. Article content The bill would also close a loophole in the Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S. by blocking asylum claims made 14 days after an applicant crossed into Canada from the U.S. clandestinely by land.
